Food Storage Container, and Cooling System Therefor

ABSTRACT

A food storage container cooling system with a food storage container with walls, at least one wall defining an internal compartment with a top and a bottom, wherein the internal compartment is open at the top and closed at the bottom, and a reusable ice pack that is sized and shaped to fit into the compartment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Provisional Application 62/326,072, filed on Apr. 22, 2016.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a food storage container.

There are many situations in which food must be kept cold outside of a refrigerator. Food can be stored in a container, and the container can be kept in a cooler with ice. This can be difficult, and clumsy.

SUMMARY

All examples and features mentioned below can be combined in any technically possible way.

Featured in this disclosure is a food storage container cooling system. The food storage containers include thin compartments on each of their sides. Reusable (flexible or rigid) ice packs are provided, at least one for each such side. The ice packs are sized and shaped to fit into a compartment. The contents of the container are thus cooled from all sides. The container lid is preferably attached to the container. The lid has a good seal to the container, to help keep coolness in and moisture and condensation out. The containers can have any convenient shape, such as square, rectangular, round, or bowl-shaped, and can be of any size.

In one alternative arrangement, there can be an inner container that fits into an outer container. The inner container may have the same shape but be smaller, so that it is spaced from the main container. In this case the ice packs can fit between the two containers rather than into the walls of one container. The inner bowl can be releasably fixable to the outer bowl to allow them to be separate. When separated, they can be used by themselves and can be cleaned. For example, the inner bowl may be stainless steel or another material and be adapted to be removed from the outer bowl and then used as a serving bowl.

In one example the food storage container cooling system includes a food storage container with walls, at least one wall defining an internal compartment that is open at the top and closed at the bottom, a reusable ice pack that is sized and shaped to fit into the compartment, and a lid that is sized and shaped to seal to and close the container. The ice pack(s) may or may not be flexible, depending on whether or not they need to be flexed in order to fit into a compartment. Each wall of the container may define an internal compartment that is open at the top and closed at the bottom. The lid may be coupled and hinged to the container. The lid may have a seal that seals to the top of the container. The walls that form the compartment(s) may be the walls of two separate nested containers, so that an inner container can be removed from an outer container.

Embodiments may include one of the following features, or any combination thereof. Each wall of the container may define an internal compartment that is open at the top and closed at the bottom. The walls may be of separate containers, so that an inner container can be removed from an outer container. The food storage container may comprise an outer bowl and a separate inner bowl, where the bowls are constructed and arranged to nest, with a gap between them that defines an internal compartment. The food storage container may comprise an outer soft cooler and an inner rigid interior shell that is at least in part spaced from the cooler, to define an internal compartment. The outer cooler may have a plurality of walls, and the shell may be spaced from each of the walls.

Embodiments may include one of the following features, or any combination thereof. The internal compartments may be integrally formed with the container. The internal compartments may project inwardly from the walls as open-top pockets. An internal compartment may be located within a wall. The ice pack may be flexible, so it can be formed to the shape of the internal compartment. The food storage container cooling system may include a lid that is sized and shaped to seal to and close the container. The lid may be coupled and hinged to the container. The lid may have seal that seals to the top of the container. The container may be designed to store liquid, such as a baby bottle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container for a food storage container cooling system.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4, FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a stack of three of the containers of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6, FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D, are front, top, cross-sectional, and perspective views, respectively, of an ice pack that can be used with the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a lid that can be used with the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another container and lid.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate another container and lid, and an ice pack for the container.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate another container and ice packs, and a lid.

FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate another container and lid, and an ice pack for the container.

FIGS. 14, 15A and 15B illustrate another container, and dividers for the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The food storage containers include one or more internal compartments. Reusable ice packs are provided, one for each internal compartment. The ice packs are sized and shaped to fit into a compartment. The contents of the container are thus cooled from one or more sides, without the need for any separate cooler, or any separate ice or ice packs. The container lid is preferably attached to the container, but can be separate from the container. The lid has a good seal to the container, to help keep coolness in and moisture and condensation out. The containers can have any convenient shape, such as square, rectangular, round, or bowl-shaped, and can be of any size.

In one alternative arrangement, there can be an inner container that fits into an outer container. The inner container may have the same shape but be smaller, so that it is spaced from the main container. In this case the ice packs can fit between the two containers rather than in the walls of one container. The inner container can be (but need not be) releasably fixable to the outer container, to allow them to be separated. When separated, they can be used by themselves, and can be cleaned. For example, the inner container may be stainless steel bowl, or another material, and be adapted to be removed from the outer container (bowl) and then used as a serving bowl.

In one example the food storage container cooling system includes a food storage container with walls, at least one wall defining an internal compartment that is open at the top and closed at the bottom, a reusable ice pack that is sized and shaped to fit into the compartment, and an optional lid that is sized and shaped to seal to and close the container. The ice pack(s) may or may not be flexible, depending on whether or not they need to be flexed in order to fit into a compartment. Each wall of the container may define an internal compartment that is open at the top and closed at the bottom. The lid may be coupled and hinged to the container. The lid may have a seal that seals to the top of the container. The walls that form the compartment(s) may be but need not be the walls of two separate nested containers, so that an inner container can be removed from an outer container.

Several non-limiting, specific, examples of the disclosure, are shown in the drawings.

FIGS. 1-4 show food storage container 100. Container 100 has external walls 102, 103, 112, and 114, which each extend from bottom 104 to top rim 105. Peripheral flange 116 helps to stiffen the walls. Bottom foot 124 is a conventional feature. Arranged along the inside of each wall is an integrally-formed, internal compartment, such as compartment 113 (with top opening 113 a), where compartment 113 is located between inner wall 108 and the inside of outer wall 112, and compartment 115 (with top opening 115 a), where compartment 115 is located between inner wall 110 and the inside of outer wall 114. Third and fourth inner walls 120 and 122 are also illustrated. There do not need to be four compartments, and the compartments could be of a different size and/or shape. For example, some or all of the walls could carry more than one compartment. For example, to accommodate a longer wall, two or more side-by-side compartments such as shown in FIGS. 1-4 could be located along any one or more walls. This could be a means to accommodate a larger container, but still use the same size ice packs.

In this particular, non-limiting example, the compartments are a bit shorter than the outer wall of the container, such that their tops lie below container rim 105. This allows the ice packs (explained below) to be grasped for insertion and removal from a compartment. Also, the inner walls (such as wall 108), can define a small cutaway (e.g., cutaway 109) that can also help a person to grasp an ice pack between the thumb and a finger. As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rounded corner shape of bottom wall 104 and the slight draft of the containers allows them to be nested, with bottom wall 104 siting on the tops of the inner walls.

Ice pack 150, shown in FIGS. 7A-7D, is particularly adapted to fit snugly into each of these four compartments. Front face 152 has a contour that follows the contour of the inner container wall. Top lip 154 protrudes slightly from an inner wall cutaway, such as cutaway 109; together they allow a user to grasp lip 154 and pull the ice pack out of the compartment after it has been used, so it can be re-frozen.

The containers should have a top or lid, but do not have to have a top. The top can be attached, or not. FIG. 8 shows a removable top 160 that snap fits over rim 105, and includes a flexible, rubber seal 162 that is conventional in food storage container lids, to help seal in the contents and keep cold in the container. When ice packs are placed in the compartments and food is loaded into the container, and the top is applied, the ice packs will help to keep the contents cold, without any need for the container to be placed in a cooler or the like.

FIG. 9 schematically depicts food storage container cooling system 10 that includes food storage container 12 and attached (or optional, separate) lid 14. Container 12 is square or rectangular, but could be another shape such as round or oval, for example. Each of the four outer walls is made from spaced integral panels that define an empty slot or compartment between them, such as compartment 16. There are four re-usable ice packs, each sized and shaped to fit into and more or less fill one compartment, an example being ice pack 18. The ice packs are placed into the compartments. Lid 14, with rubber seal 22, is then closed and latched using latches 20 and 21. The latch designs are known types of storage container lid closure designs.

Another alternative design contemplates the type of cooler with soft sides and a rigid interior shell. The shell can be designed to be smaller than the inside dimensions of the cooler, to leave a gap between the cooler walls and the shell. Ice packs can be fitted into this gap, in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 9, or in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 1, where the pockets are located between the contoured interior shell and the outer part (e.g., the soft sides) of the cooler.

A round design 30 is depicted in FIGS. 10A and 10B, where container 32 defines circumferential compartment 34. Ice pack 38 is generally rectangular and is flexible, so that it can be rolled and fitted into compartment 34. Lid 36 is attached and can be held or latched closed, and also includes an environmental seal, such as described above.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrates another example. Food storage container cooling system 50, FIG. 11, includes outer (e.g., plastic) bowl 54 and inner (e.g., stainless steel) bowl 56 that fits into bowl 54 and preferably (but not necessarily) clips to it, e.g., with clips 60 protruding up from the inside of the bottom of bowl 54. Side clips 61 can also be included to help maintain inter-bowl spacing, but may not be necessary. Empty compartment 68 is formed between the two bowls. Ice packs 62 and 63 are sized and shaped to each fill about one-half of compartment 68. Separate lid with rubber lining 64 (FIG. 12) can fit over and seal to bowl 54. Food carried in bowl 56 can be served by removing bowl 56 and using it for serving.

FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate a bottle (e.g., a water bottle, or a baby bottle) 82, with cover or cap 90. Bottle 82 has outer compartment/cavity 84 with top opening 86. Flexible thin ice pack 88, FIG. 13B, can be rolled up and inserted into compartment 84 via opening 86. This will help to keep the bottle contents cold.

FIGS. 14, 15A and 15B illustrate another container 200 where two or more angled, removable dividers (212, 214, 222, and 224) can be fitted into the container, to create four generally triangular compartments 231-234. The dividers can interfit by creating a necessary number of slots such as slot 213 in one set of dividers, so that they can be placed over one or more cross dividers, as would be apparent to one skilled in the field. Gaps 210 and 220 between parallel dividers provide room for properly sized and shaped ice packs.

Other alternatives are possible, and features in one drawing could be used in examples of other drawings, as would be apparent. A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that additional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive concepts described herein, and, accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A food storage container cooling system, comprising: a food storage container with walls, at least one wall defining an internal compartment with a top and a bottom, wherein the internal compartment is open at the top and closed at the bottom; and a reusable ice pack that is sized and shaped to fit into the compartment.
 2. The food storage container cooling system of claim 1, wherein each wall of the container defines an internal compartment that is open at the top and closed at the bottom.
 3. The food storage container cooling system of claim 1, wherein the walls are of separate containers, so that an inner container can be removed from an outer container.
 4. The food storage container cooling system of claim 3, wherein the food storage container comprises an outer bowl and a separate inner bowl, where the bowls are constructed and arranged to nest, with a gap between them that defines an internal compartment.
 5. The food storage container cooling system of claim 3, wherein the food storage container comprises an outer soft cooler and an inner rigid interior shell that is at least in part spaced from the cooler, to define an internal compartment.
 6. The food storage container cooling system of claim 5, wherein the outer cooler has a plurality of walls, and the shell is spaced from each of the walls.
 7. The food storage container cooling system of claim 1, wherein the internal compartments are integrally formed with the container.
 8. The food storage container cooling system of claim 7, wherein the internal compartments project inwardly from the walls as open-top pockets.
 9. The food storage container cooling system of claim 1, wherein an internal compartment is located within a wall.
 10. The food storage container cooling system of claim 1, wherein the ice pack is flexible, so it can be formed to the shape of the internal compartment.
 11. The food storage container cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a lid that is sized and shaped to seal to and close the container.
 12. The food storage container cooling system of claim 11, wherein the lid is coupled and hinged to the container.
 13. The food storage container cooling system of claim 11, wherein the lid comprises a seal that seals to the top of the container.
 14. The food storage container cooling system of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a liquid storage container.
 15. The food storage container cooling system of claim 14, wherein the container comprises a baby bottle.
 16. A food storage container cooling system, comprising: a food storage container with a plurality of walls, each wall defining an integrally-formed internal compartment with a top and a bottom, wherein the internal compartments project inwardly from the walls as open-top pockets are open at the top and closed at the bottom; and a plurality of reusable ice packs, where the ice packs are sized and shaped to fit into the compartments.
 17. The food storage container cooling system of claim 16, further comprising a lid that is sized and shaped to seal to and close the container.
 18. The food storage container cooling system of claim 17, wherein the lid is coupled and hinged to the container. 